Sierra Leone Senior Secondary School Syllabus: Social & Cultural Studies > Geography

This syllabus provides competencies in understanding issues affecting humans in their environment, focusing on geographical skills and techniques for environmental protection and problem-solving. It encourages critical thinking and decision-making by analyzing relationships between biophysical processes and human activities.

General Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, students will:

• Develop a sense of space, place, and relative location.
• Understand geomorphic, atmospheric, and biotic processes.
• Grasp contemporary environmental system issues.
• Acquire cartographic skills for map reading and interpretation.
• Understand scale and apply it geographically.
• Demonstrate fieldwork skills and techniques.
• Recognize geospatial technology for spatial analysis.
• Practice data collection, processing, and interpretation.
• Appreciate forces influencing population distribution.
• Understand human settlement types, functions, and growth.
• Explain population migration and its influencing factors.
• Understand economic activity patterns and changes.
• Explain environmental changes over space and time.
• Interpret and evaluate information sources.
• Develop logical, evidence-based arguments.
• Understand and manage human environmental impacts sustainably.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Sierra Leone and African geography.
• Understand contemporary socio-economic and environmental issues.
• Use geographical skills to address sustainable development challenges.

Subject Content Outline

The syllabus covers:

• Elements of Physical Geography
• Economic and Human Geography
• Geography of Africa
• Maps, Map Reading and Interpretation
• Geography of Sierra Leone

SSS 1

• Term 1: Elements of Physical Geography: Introduction to Geography, Our Planet in Space, Landforms, Earthquakes, Volcanoes.
• Term 2: Rocks and Soil: Rock types and formation, Weathering, Mass movement, Soil formation and types, Human impact on soil, Soil erosion and conservation, Vegetation, Deserts.
• Term 3: Climate and Weather: Elements and factors affecting climate, Climate-related hazards, Climate change, Hydrosphere, Environmental resources and hazards, Environmental management.

SSS 2

• Term 1: Economic and Human Geography: World population trends, Human settlements, Human migration.
• Term 2: Transportation, Tourism, and Sustainable Development: Transportation modes, Tourism industry, Sustainable development concepts.
• Term 3: Geography of Africa: Location and physical environment, Population dynamics, Economic activities and the environment, Transport and trade, The changing African landscape.

SSS 3

• Term 1: Maps, Map-reading and Interpretation: Map types and elements, Map reading, Map scale, Measuring distances, Direction and bearing, Map reduction and enlargement, Contour maps and landforms, Identifying physical and cultural features, Measurement of gradients, Drainage characteristics, Communication patterns, Settlement and land use patterns, Aerial photography/satellite image interpretation.
• Term 2: Statistical Maps, Surveying, and GIS: Statistical maps and diagrams, Principles of elementary surveying, Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Term 3: Regional Geography of Sierra Leone: Location and features, Climate and vegetation, Population and ethnicity, Migration, Economic activities of Sierra Leone.